New Ulm weekly review., 1887-04-27
black paint, and there was an English
carpet, the only one il town, and q
sofa, and IN the fiirenlace stood some

wasn't any better according than the
rest OF the house. It was full OF every
thing nice. Mrs. Bassett kept girl
spinning flax all the time, and such
piles of towels, table and bed linen as
she had. Iguess you will think am
never going to get to the sleighride,
but am coming toit.
Oh. I enjoy hearing about the way
they lived so long ago. It must have
been fun to spin on those little flax
wheels. Mother has one IN the attic
now, that was grandma's.' y
We'll, it vas pretty work; used to
be famous flax spinner. Folks used
to get me to spin their fine thread.
But as | was saying, Squire Bassett's
folks had everything that was nice,
but that don't hinder trouble from.
coming, and they had their share, for
out of four beautiful children, only
one son lived to grow up, and they
| just wOrshiped him. Thomas, or Tom
Bassett, as he was called, was as nice
q young man as there was in Chester,
and he was as handsome as picture,
with his black hair and eyes. He was
tall and broad-shouldered and stood
square on his feet as a man ought to.
Squire Bassett and his wife had de-
| cided that Nancy Holmes was justthe
one for Tom to marry. She belonged
to the family and had money; SO ever
| since Fancy came to live with them,
they had been trying to make match
between them, and Nancy was willing
enough, but they all knew Tom heart
| was set on Ruth Davis, and had been
ever since they were children together.
But Ruth was a poor girl. Herr father
was shoemaker, and they lived in a
little house with only three rooms,
and Ruth had to go out spinning. and
If she was as pretty as a pink, and as
good as she was pretty, they thought
| she was no match for Squire Bassett's
| son.
When the sleighride was talked OF
we all wondered which Tom would
take, Nancy or Ruth, but we soon
found out he was going with Nancy.
presume his folks made such fuss
he couldn't nelp it. Ruth was going
with Jo Green who was as much in
love with her as Tom was. We all
ways called them the rivals.
There couldn't have been a better
time for a sleighride than that after
noon we started for Morse's tavern.
There had not any snow fallen for
some time and the road was trOdden
| down as smooth and hard as q floor.
| There were twenty couples Of us. Tom
Bassett with his span Of handsome
black horses with Nancy wicked into
| the. sleigh beside him took the lead.
We just skinned over the snow and
| just as it began to grow dark we came
! IN sight OF Morse's tavern. 1t was 8
! low, rambling, old building, with
broad piazza across the front. The
! ruddy glow of the fires shone cheerily
| through the windows making it a pleas
ant sight after a ride OF ten miles.
we had just time to take off our
wraps and get warm before the fire
| that was swapping and roaring up the
great old chimney when we were called
to supper. And such supper. Folks
| knew how to cook in those days.
| By the time we had finished
supper they had got the hall
| lighted and the musicians were
tuning their violins. It wasn't much
OF hall, at least you would not think
SO, and it was lighted with tallow cam
dies and the music was only two vio-
| Inns, but we had just as good a time as
the young folks do now with great
halls lighted with gas, and bands Of
| music.
:We danced contra dances and reels
till ten o'clock, when it was time to 90
! home. I had noticed all the evening
that Ruth did not take notice of Tom
! Bassett. She seemed all taken mp with
/ To- E..
| ly Ruth didn't seem to care for any
one but him. saw him looking at
Ruth and 10 and his eyes fairly blazed.
While we girls were putting on our
things the young men went for the
horses. Nancy, Ruth and got ready
| first and stepped out on TO the piazza
| The moon was shining as bright as
day.
10 is going to be first going home"
said Ruth, as she walked towards the
steps, and as she spoke Isaw 10 Green
driving up to the door, but before he
got there Tom Bassett dashed past
him, drove up to the steps, and quick
er than can tell you was out of the
sleigh, caught Ruth up, put her in his
sleigh and was off like flash. It was
done so quickly we hardly realized it,
until he was out of sight. Nancy was
the first to speak
Well, said she, 'he has run off
with Ruth Davis. should think it
was q nice way to treat me. When /
60 anywhere with Tom Bassett again
he will know it,
Nancy never had an opportunity
to go with him again. Instead of GO
ing to Chester Tom drove to Parson
Browns who lived about four miles
from the tavern. and was married to
Ruth that night.
Ruth told me afterwards about it.
She said she couldn't help being mar
ried. Tom said he had seen 10 Green
going around with her as long as he
was going to, and drove right to the
{ minister's house. Hehad gone to bed,
but Tom soon had him up and had
the knot tel